Syracuse hookah smoking lounge catches fire

Jennifer Meyers / The Post-StandardSyracuse University student Joe Raymond smokes a cinnamon ice cream flavored hookah at Hollywood Hookah last week. With Raymond are J.P. Placella (center) and Jake Boyajian, both of Long Island.

Dispatchers at the 911 center received the call around 3 a.m. about smoke and flames at Hollywood Hookah, which opened last week on the Syracuse University hill, in a second-floor commercial space above J. Michael Shoes.

Fire investigator Joseph Galloway said careless disposal of the charcoal used to heat the flavored tobacco resulted in a table catching fire in a prep area.

The lounge is co-owned by SU football players Mikhail Marinovich, a freshman defensive end; and Niko Rechul, a senior kicker.